Three-year-olds found themselves in the spotlight on Sunday at Hippodrome Trois Rivieres, as the half-mile oval hosted a six-pack of $5,000 eliminations for the Elevage Quebecois.
Baron Yankee went gate-to-wire for the tandem of driver Stephane Brosseau and trainer Serge Ouellet in the first of two eliminations for the three-year-old colt and gelding pacers. The son of Yankee Cam-Oceania Angus sped through splits of :29, :59.2 and 1:29.2 before sealing the deal in 2:00. Runner-up Jordon Boy was 2-1/2 lengths in arrears, with Reve Ki Pass taking home third prize.
After going winless in six starts as a rookie, Baron Yankee has bounced back by assembling a 5-1-1 record this season from just 11 trips to the track. Les Ecuries Prestige Inc of Mascouche and Serge Ouellet of Mirabel, QC bred and own the gelding who now boasts a bankroll that stands at $22,550.
Cee Pee Panic took the other elimination in 1:59.3 for Team Filion, and in doing so he extended his winning streak to three-in-a-row. Yves Filion rallied the Justin Filion-trained son of Perfect Union-Miss Alwindy to the quarter-length score in 1:59.3. Somehowsomeway laid down all of the fractions and finished a bang-up second, while Godivabeachdiamond tagged along to finish third.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, Cee Pee Panic improved this year’s record to 3-1-0 in five tries for his owner/breeder Brian Paquet of Quebec. The five-time winner has now earned in excess of $22,000.
In the first of two eliminations for the three-year-old pacing fillies Vallarta Magic steamrolled over nine foes in a career-best clocking of 1:59 for driver Jocelyn Gendron and trainer Herman Gagne. The daughter of Shanghai Phil-Hippo Sorel slipped to the lead and hustled the field through fractions of :29, :58.1 and 1:28.2 before cruising home in :30.3 to post the win by 2-1/2 lengths over race favourite Olivias Way and Niceandup.
Aurel Harvey Et Fils Inc of Riviere-Malbaie QC bred and owns the photogenic filly who has manufactured a 7-1-0 record from just nine trips to the track this season. The 10-time winner has managed to stash away more than $13,000 from her 15 lifetime starts.
D Gs Sunnyday pummeled the foes she faced in the second elimination as noted by the seven-length triumph she turned in for driver Denis St. Pierre and trainer Guylaine Fortin. The Perfect Union-D Gs Janetsday miss blasted to the lead from Post 8 and successfully whacked out intervals of :28.2, :59.1 and 1:29.2 en route to the 1:59.2 victory. Desir Dorleans was the runner-up, and Couleur Magnifique took home third prize.
Daniel Suprenant and Guylaine Fortin of Saint-Valentin, QC bred and own the career winner of $12,507. She’s put together a 3-1-1 record from six starts this season after going 0-for-4 in last year’s rookie campaign.
Genevieve Dream, who was purchased for a mere $1,000 from the 2010 Lexington Select Yearling Sale, has proved to be money well spent for her connections. The daughter of Justice Hall-Grisaille Hanover romped to an easy tally in the lone elimination for three-year-old trotting fillies. Sylvain Lacaille had her on top through fractions of :29.3, 1:00.4 and 1:31, and a final quarter of :31.4 was more than enough for the Normand Masse trainee to win in 2:02.4. Runner-up Mathers Promising was 3-3/4 lengths behind the winner, with Promise To Belucky rallying late and taking home the show dough.
The four-time winner, who was unraced as a rookie, now boasts a career cash stash totaling $34,531 for the 9103 0163 Quebec Inc of Montreal, QC.
Decret Justiciale and trainer/driver Denis Filion held on to win the lone elimination for the three-year-old colt and gelding trotters in 2:01. The son of Justice Hall-Supersfinalcatch, who was on top through splits of :29.1, 1:00.3 and 1:31.1, nabbed the half-length victory over Temptation Bayama. Sucre A La Crème, who was parked out early, managed to hang on for third.
Sent off as the 2-5 favourite, Decret Justiciale extended his winning streak to three-in-a-row for the partnership of Jules Sigler of Ottawa, ON and Daniel Levac of St-Augustin-Mirabel, QC. The homebred, who went 4-for-4 as a rookie, has produced a 6-0-2 record from 10 starts this season. He’s banked in excess of $53,000 this season and close to $75,000 to date.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome Trois Rivieres.